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Die marring both top and bottom plates on new Big Shot
I've read and watched many tutorials about die cutting before getting a Big Shot for my bday this week, many of which said to keep one of your cutting plates clean and nice while only cutting/marring the other plate. Well, the first die I ran through my big shot cut into the bottom plate of course but also drastically marred the top plate as well with the impression of the top of the wafer thin die. When I placed a piece of cardstock between the cutting plates and ran it through the Big Shot, my "supposed to be nice top plate" was marred enough to emboss marks into the cardstock. So despite my best efforts, neither plate remains "the nice plate" after just one use! What am I doing wrong? I'm assuming the top plate (when the cutting blades of the die are facing down) should not be getting marked up, just the bottom plate. FYI, I had my extended multipurpose platform on tab two and sandwiched a My Favorite Things Die-Namics between two cutting plates (cutting blades facing down). Help, I feel like I can't touch my Big Shot anymore until I get this figured out. Thank you so much for any advice you can share!
Haha, oops, I've already messed up here on splitcoast...so this is the intro thread I now see!!! Not sure how to delete this post, so I'll just introduce myself here in the comments and repost my above problem elsewhere.
I delved into the world of card making about a year ago and have been loving the little creative moments it's added to my life. As a stay at home mom to a 6- and 3-year old, I'm a little short on personal time, but squeezing in a card here or there works quite nicely. It's been fun and fulfilling to have a new outlet and creative community to connect with. I've so enjoyed reading and learning from your posts. Thank you all!
Welcome to SCS and welcome to the OH MY GOSH I KILLED MY CUTTING PLATES CLUB. I think most of us gasped with horror the first time using a cutting machine. You aren't doing anything wrong. I rotate my plates and flip them over, they look dreadful, but stay nice and flat for a long time.
__________________ Susie
Please don't take your organs to heaven - heaven knows we need them here.
It will happen. I cry just a little bit whenever I make the first cut on new plates. They'll also start to warp a bit as you send different things through the machine. I just swap mine back and forth to try to equally use all sides up and change the bend in the other direction. It doesn't affect cutting, so use them as long as you can. The only time it does get annoying is when they get quite warped and then sometimes your dies shift as you squash the plates.
Welcome. I don't keep one of my plates as a good plate and I'm still using the original plates I got well over five years ago. I rotate both top and bottom of both sides of the plate with every pass. If you find your cardstock is getting marked by either plate, use a piece of photcopy paper in between the die and the cardstock. I sometimes have to do that but not often. The typing paper takes the brunt of the marking that can happen. You'll also find this will stop a bit as time goes on and your brand new machine loosens up a bit.
Happy die cutting!
__________________ Leslie Harnish
Sambro, Nova Scotia
Canada
So glad to see you've found us!
As you already know, we love to share & help & soothe each other's fears. There's always another way to look at things, and we love to compare & share ideas any time of day or night. ;)
Hope you'll stick around & wiggle in to get comfy! Welcome!
Die marring both top and bottom plates on new Big Shot
